Italy returns home with another silver in the World Cup. The men’s team of the Olympic arc formed by Mauro Nespoli, David Pasqualucci and Alessandro Paoli in the second stage of Gwangju loses only in the final with the hosts of South Korea who win 6-0 with the following partial: 59-53, 58 -57, 57-52, proving to be devastating. It is the second consecutive podium in just over a month for the Azzurri who, even on their seasonal debut in the competition, in Antalya, Turkey, climbed to the second step of the podium, surrendering only in Taipei. For the men’s Italy this second silver is worth other useful points to improve the world ranking also in view of the qualifications for Paris 2024.
THE FINAL
The Azzurri did not manage to win the challenge against the Korean masters, Olympic and world champions in charge, who this time also have the advantage of shooting at home with a skyrocketing cheer in one of the spectacular South Korean facilities dedicated exclusively to shooting with the bow.
In the final Kim Je Deok, Kim Woojin and Lee Woo Seok immediately set a frenzied pace to the race by placing a first set of 59 points out of 60 to which Italy responds with a 53. The Azzurri increase the average and approach the near perfection of the opponents, the second set is much more balanced, but ends in favor of the Koreans 58-57. At this point, down 4-0, Italy would need to win two volleys in a row to stay in the match, a feat that proves impossible because the Koreans’ performances leave no room for the Azzurri to return to the match, even the third set. in fact it goes to the hosts (57-52). It ends 6-0 and Italy has little to blame, South Korea once again proves to be the strongest national team with eighteen arrows out of eighteen in the “yellow” and eleven “10”.
WORLD RANKING
The Olympic trio still has the great satisfaction of having confirmed itself at the highest levels by arriving for the second time in a row at the bottom of the team competition, a great success that will be important also in view of Paris 2024. The qualification criteria for the next Olympics in fact also include the world team ranking: thanks to the two silvers between Antalya and Gwangju, Italy has put many points in the farmhouse to climb positions.
PARIS
The 2022 World Cup journey has reached its halfway point. In June the third stage is scheduled to be held in Paris from 20 to 26, while the fourth is scheduled from 18 to 24 July in Medellin. The results of the four stages will indicate the finalists who will face off in Tlaxcala, Mexico, between 15 and 16 October.
